Bill Tucker (rugby union)

Last updated

Bill Tucker
Birth nameWilliam Eldon Tucker
Date of birth(1903-08-06)6 August 1903
Place of birth Hamilton, Bermuda
Date of death4 August 1991(1991-08-04) (aged 87)
Place of death Bermuda
School Sherborne School
University Caius College, Cambridge
Notable relative(s) William Eldon Tucker, father
Rugby union career
Position(s) No. 8
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
Cambridge University R.U.F.C.
St. George's Hospital
Blackheath F.C.
Barbarian F.C.
Kent		 ()
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1926–1930 England 3 (0)

William Eldon Tucker CVO MBE TD (6 August 1903 – 4 August 1991) [1] was a Bermudian orthopaedic surgeon and rugby union player who played club rugby for Cambridge University, St. George's Hospital and Blackheath. Tucker gained his first of three international caps when he was selected for England in 1926. As a surgeon, Tucker specialised in sports injuries. He also had a long career in the Territorial Army section of the Royal Army Medical Corps, and was decorated for his Second World War service, much of which was spent in German POW camps having remained with the wounded in France during the Dunkirk evacuation.

Contents

Personal history

William Eldon Tucker was born in Hamilton, Bermuda, in 1903 to William Eldon Tucker and Henrietta Hutchings. His father was a medical doctor, and Tucker's life would follow his father's closely in professional and sporting areas. Tucker was educated at Sherborne School in England, before matriculating to Caius College, Cambridge. [2] After leaving Cambridge he continued his education at St George's Hospital, London; where he gained his MRCS and LRCP in 1928. [2] On 1 November 1930 he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Territorial Army (TA) General List of the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC), [3] He transferred to the TA Reserve of Officers on 8 February 1934. [4] In 1936, at the age of 33, he opened the Park Street Orthopaedic Clinic, where he pioneered treatment in sports' injuries, stimulated by his experiences as a rugby player. [5]

With the outbreak of the Second World War imminent, Tucker returned to the RAMC TA General List, and was promoted to captain on 12 April 1939. [6] He was called up for active service when the TA was mobilised. He was captured by German forces early in the conflict, when he chose to remain behind to treat injured soldiers, during the Dunkirk evacuation. [2] As a prisoner of war he made himself useful by constructing improvised artificial limbs for injured soldiers. [2] After his repatriation from Germany, he was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 3 February 1944, "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services during and prior to captivity." [2] [7] After the war, while retaining his TA commission, he returned to work at his London Clinic, and through focusing on injuries to sportsmen and women, it became a very successful business. Tucker elected to keep his clinic open seven days a week, therefore becoming a first port of call for sportspeople injured during weekend sporting events, this was very popular with jockeys who required to return to racing as soon as possible for economic reasons. [2] Tucker's clients were notable and included famous cricketers, footballers and members of the British Royal family.

Tucker's TA career continued in parallel, he was promoted major on 15 August 1947, and concurrently granted the acting rank of lieutenant-colonel. [8] In 1950, the rank of lt-col was confirmed, backdated to his original acting promotion. [9] On 16 February 1951 he was awarded the Territorial Efficiency Decoration, with clasp for his long-service in the TA, [10] and was promoted acting colonel on 1 June 1951, [11] substantive promotion followed early the next year, again backdated to the original assumption of acting rank. [12] He was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in the 1954 New Year Honours. [13] He transferred back to the TA Reserve of Officers on 1 July 1956. [14]

In 1956, Tucker, along with Arthur Porritt and Sir Adolphe Abrahams gathered a group interested in sport and medicine, which became the British Association of Sport and Medicine. [5] On 24 July 1960 he was appointed Honorary Colonel of 17 (London) General Hospital, RAMC, TA, [15] holding the position until 1 December 1963. [16] During this period he reached the age limit for service, and so retired from the TA Reserve of Officers on 6 August 1961. [17]

Tucker wrote several books on health and fitness, including Young at Heart, an advice book for remaining fit in old age. On his retirement he left Britain and returned to his family home in Bermuda. He was married twice, and had two children from his first marriage. His second wife, journalist Mary Castle, co-authored of several of his books and was formerly married to Cedric Belfrage. [18] [5]

Rugby career

Tucker first came to note as a rugby player when he played for Cambridge University. He played in four Varsity Matches from 1922 to 1925, and he was given the captaincy in the 1925 match. Tucker was described as a 'fine forward' and a 'sanguine, forceful and cheerful personality. [19] During the 1925/26 season, Tucker was given his first international cap, when he was selected for England during the 1926 Five Nations Championship. The match, played against Ireland at Lansdowne Road, ended in a 19–15 victory for the Irish team. After leaving Cambridge, Tucker played for St George's Hospital and then Blackheath, as well as being selected to play county rugby for Kent. Tucker needed to wait until 1930 to play for England again, and played two games in the 1930 Championship, a win over Wales and another loss to Ireland.

Tucker's rugby career is closely linked to that of his father. Not only did the two men share the same name, William Eldon Tucker, but both were educated at Caius College in Cambridge, before completing a medical education at St George's Hospital. At Cambridge, both men played for the University rugby club, and were also honoured by captaining the team during a Varsity Match. [20] Both men played for St George's RFC, Blackheath [20] and played county rugby for Kent. [21] A more difficult feat was achieved when both were chosen to represent England at international level and being chosen to play for invitational touring side, the Barbarians. [22]

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

Brigadier Manley Angell James, was a British Army officer and an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Derek Ernest Denny-Brown OBE was a New Zealand-born neurologist. Working in Oxford, London and Boston, he made major contributions to the field of neurology, such as the development of electromyography, physiology of micturition and the treatment of Wilson's disease.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ernest Deane</span> Irish rugby union player

Ernest Cotton Deane was a medical officer of the British Indian Army and an Irish international rugby player. Born in the city of Limerick, Ireland, he went to school in Kingstown in County Dublin and then studied medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), graduating in 1909. He was selected to play rugby for Ireland in one match, against England in February 1909. His rugby career was cut short when he broke his leg in a match against Oxford University.

Major-General John Cecil Alexander Dowse (1891–1964) was an Irish-born British Army medical officer in World War I and World War II. He played rugby for Ireland in 1914.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Hamilton D'Oyly Lyon</span> English sportsman and Royal Navy officer

Admiral Sir George Hamilton D'Oyly Lyon was a distinguished Royal Navy officer as well as an English sportsman who played cricket at first-class level and played rugby union at international level for England, captaining the side in 1909. Beginning his career in the Royal Navy in 1899, Lyon saw action during the First World War and following the conclusion of the war, he moved through the senior ranks of the navy, holding various commands, both at the Admiralty and at sea. He would eventually reach the rank of admiral during the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hugh Llewellyn Glyn Hughes</span>

Brigadier Hugh Llewellyn Glyn Hughes, was a British military officer in the Royal Army Medical Corps and later a medical administrator, educationalist and sports administrator. Hughes served in both the First and Second World Wars and is notable for his role in the care and rehabilitation of the victims of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.

Dr. Cecil Anderson Boyd MC was an Irish rugby union player, and medical doctor. Boyd played international rugby for Ireland and in 1896 was chosen to represent a British Isles XV in their tour of South Africa. Boyd was the second son of Sir Walter Boyd, 1st Baronet, and although the title passed to Boyd's older brother, Boyd's son became the third Boyd Baronet, of Howth House

William Thomas Charles Cave was an English international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cambridge and Blackheath. Cave played international rugby for both the British Isles and England, and was also selected for invitational team the Barbarians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Balfour</span> Scotland international rugby union player

Sir Andrew Balfour was a Scottish Medical Officer who specialised in tropical medicine. Balfour spent twelve years in Khartoum, Sudan and was the Medical Officer of Health in the city. As well as writing medical publications, Balfour also wrote historical fiction and fantasy novels, the majority of which were published from 1897 to 1903. In his youth Balfour was also a notable sportsman playing rugby union for Cambridge University in the Varsity Match and was selected to represent the Scotland national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernard Charles Hartley</span> England international rugby union player

Major Bernard Charles "Jock" Hartley OBE was a rugby union international player who represented England from 1901 to 1902. At club level he represented Cambridge University and Blackheath. In 1938 he was given the role of team manager of the British Isles team on their tour of South Africa.

William Eldon Tucker was a Bermudian rugby union player who played club rugby for Cambridge University, St. George's Hospital and Blackheath. Tucker gained his first of five international caps when he was selected for England in 1894. He returned to Bermuda after qualifying as a medical doctor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Purdon</span> Rugby player

Major-General William Brooke Purdon was an Irish soldier, physician and medical administrator. Towards the end of his life he was a representative of the Northern Ireland Government in London and for four years was an Honorary Surgeon to the King. In his youth Purdon was a rugby footballer of some note, representing several Irish clubs and was selected to play international rugby for Ireland on three occasions in 1906.

Major-General James Alexander Deans Johnston, was a senior British Army officer in the Royal Army Medical Corps and the Senior Medical Officer at the liberated Bergen-Belsen concentration camp towards the end of the Second World War. A docudrama portraying his experiences attempting to save the starving and diseased concentration camp prisoners at Bergen-Belsen was made in 2007 entitled The Relief of Belsen.

Major General Anthony John Shaw was a senior British Army officer, who was Director General of the Army Medical Services from 1988 to 1990.

Lieutenant-General Sir Richard Phillip Bradshaw, KBE was a senior British Army officer and doctor. He served as Director General Army Medical Services from 1977 to 1981.

Lieutenant-General Sir James Parlane Baird, was a British Army officer and doctor. He served as Director General Army Medical Services from 1973 to 1977.

Brigadier Sir Lionel Ernest Howard Whitby, CVO, MC was a British haematologist, British Army officer and academic. He served as Regius Professor of Physic at the University of Cambridge from 1945 to 1956, Master of Downing College, Cambridge from 1947 to 1956, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1951 to 1953.

Barney Ernest Willford McCall MC was an English-born Welsh cricketer, rugby player and British Army officer. He was born at Clifton, Bristol, and died at hospital in Cardiff, Glamorgan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robertson Smyth</span> Rugby union player

Major Robertson "Robbie" Stewart Smyth was an international rugby player, who represented Ireland and Great Britain. Born in County Down, Ireland, he went to Dungannon Royal School, then studied medicine at Trinity College, Dublin, where he obtained his doctorate in 1904. After a year as house surgeon at Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital, he was commissioned into the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1906, and went to India the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Matthews (Scottish cricketer)</span> Scottish cricketer and physician

John Duncan Matthews was an English-born Scottish first-class cricketer and physician.

References

  1. ↑ Bill Tucker player profile Scrum.com
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 D. Geraint James, R. P. Goulden (19 October 2001). "British Medical Journal – Obituaries". British Medical Journal. 303 (6808): 988–989. PMC   1671353 .
  3. ↑ "No. 33668". The London Gazette . 9 December 1930. p. 7892.
  4. ↑ "No. 34050". The London Gazette . 15 May 1934. p. 3120.
  5. 1 2 3 Henry Robson (19 December 1991). "William Eldon Tucker, FRCS, CVO, MBE, TD". British Journal of Sports Medicine. 25 (4): 241. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.25.4.241 . S2CID   72441191 . Retrieved 27 June 2010.
  6. ↑ "No. 34626". The London Gazette . 16 May 1939. p. 3299.
  7. ↑ "No. 36358". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 February 1944. p. 619.
  8. ↑ "No. 38270". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 April 1948. p. 2591.
  9. ↑ "No. 38847". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 February 1950. p. 966.
  10. ↑ "No. 39149". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 February 1951. pp. 851–852.
  11. ↑ "No. 39286". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 July 1951. p. 3860.
  12. ↑ "No. 39439". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 January 1952. p. 324.
  13. ↑ "No. 40053". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1953. p. 6.
  14. ↑ "No. 40837". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 July 1956. p. 4289.
  15. ↑ "No. 42101". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 July 1960. p. 851.
  16. ↑ "No. 43229". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 January 1964. p. 5164.
  17. ↑ "No. 42681". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 May 1962. p. 4194.
  18. ↑ Perkins, Al (20 October 2018). "The Tuckers of Trunk Island". The Bermudian.
  19. ↑ Marshall (1951) pg. 172
  20. 1 2 "W.E. Tucker MB FRCS". Br Med J. 2 (4844): 1050–1. 1953. doi:10.1136/bmj.2.4844.1050-b. PMC   2029985 . PMID   13094114.
  21. ↑ Marshall (1951) pg. 80
  22. ↑ Starmer-Smith, Nigel (1977). The Barbarians. Macdonald & Jane's Publishers. p. 232. ISBN   0-86007-552-4.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.